The Season of Creation - 1st September to 4th October 2021

The Season of Creation has a special significance for the Catholic Church, particularly since Pope Francis established 1 September as an annual World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.

The Season of Creation or Creation Time, is marked throughout the Christian world from 1 September to 4 October (Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi) and celebrates the joy of creation as well as encouraging awareness-raising initiatives to protect the natural environment.

A message of hope from Bishop Donal in the Season of Creation last year.

A Home for All?: Restoring Our Common Home

This year, as in previous years, the Season of Creation will be celebrated from 1 September - 4 October. It is an opportunity to give thanks to God for the gift of creation, to explore with parishioners the rich content of Laudato Si' and decide on what actions should be taken locally to care for our common home.

The theme for the Season of Creation this year is "A Home for All?: Restoring Our Common Home".

Liturgical Resources for use during the Season of Creation are now available for downloading on the website of the Irish Episcopal Conference, www.catholicbishops.ie. They are made up as follows:

In addition to the Resources, you will also find, later in August, Podcasts on the website of the Irish Episcopal Conference relating to the Season of Creation.

After the Season of Creation there will be a meeting in October of world leaders in China for a UN Biodiversity Conference (known as COP 15) and another UN meeting on Climate Change in November of world leaders in Scotland on (known as COP 26). In preparation for these UN meetings there will be a petition known as the Healthy Planet, Healthy People Petition available at http://healthyplanetandpeople.org/ for dioceses, parishes, and individuals to sign. It is envisaged that this petition with signatures will be presented by Pope Francis to the Presidents of these upcoming UN conferences.

The Season of Creation, of course, should be celebrated in a way that adheres to the Government Guidelines concerning the Covid-19 crisis during 1 September - 4 October 2021.

Finally, you may wish to know that these Resources have been prepared by the Laudato Si' Working Group of the Council for Catechetics.I hope you will find them helpful and, of course, you should feel free to adapt them to suit the local circumstances of your parish(es) and school(s).

+ Donal

The following resources are offered for use in dioceses, parishes and in the home, during the Season of Creation 2021:

1. Sunday Liturgy Notes for the Season of Creation 2021 – This resource includes homily notes for each Sunday, prayers of the faithful, music suggestions, reflections and mass parts which highlight the call to restore God's creation.
2. A weekday Prayer Service for the Season of Creation 2021 – This ecumenical resource could be used to celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Creation on 1 September in an ecumenical setting, or as a resource that could be used for the celebration of the Eucharist in parishes, or at any other time between 1st September and 4th October, feast of Saint, Francis of Assisi. We have prepared it for a formal church setting or for use out-of-doors.
3. An Earth Day Prayer Service – This beautiful service was compiled by Balally Parish, Dublin to celebrate Earth Day in 2021 but could be adapted and used as part of any Season of Creation event. It includes a reflection by Father Dermot Lane.
4. Practical Actions for Parishes 2021
5. Tree Planting Resource for the Season of Creation 2021 – Restore Our Common Home this year by engaging your parish or diocese in Tree Planting initiatives. Thanks to 'Easy Treesie' we have all the tips you need and prayers for tree planting.
6. Season of Creation Brochure Digital – A colourful resourcewith many practical tips and reflections on how to Restore Our Common Home. From the JPIC committee in the Diocese of Kerry and the Laudato Si' Working Group. Season Of Creation Brochure for printing
7. Acts of Love for the Season of Creation 2021 – PowerPoint with practical suggestions for each day of the Season. With many thanks to the Care for Creation team at Bonnybrook Parish Dublin for sharing this resource with us.
   
   

Diocese of Derry Environmental Strategy 

The Diocese of Derry has launched a consultative plan about climate change and the environment and is inviting everyone within the Diocese to read, engage and respond to it. The plan identifies actions and behaviours that support rather than destroy the environment. The suggestions cover such areas as land, buildings, energy, food, travel and waste. 

With this strategy the Diocese acknowledges its responsibility to participate in the global challenge to mitigate against environmental degradation and climate change. Pope Francis issued a ground- breaking Encyclical called Laudato Si which lays out the importance of creation, the degradation and depletion happening in the world and the role everyone must play in caring for 'OUR COMMON HOME'. The Pope highlighted the need for an 'ecological conversion' – he said 'Living our vocation to be protectors of God's handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or secondary aspect of our Christian experience. Human life is grounded in three fundamental and closely entwined relationships: with God, with our neighbour and with the earth itself'.

What is Laudato Si?

Pope Francis' encyclical letter 'Laudato Si' - Care of our common home' is addressed to "every person living on this planet". Laudato Si' was published on 18 June 2015, in eight languages. At the time, many held great hopes that it would be a powerful voice of influence in three major UN moments, one of which was the UNFCCC Paris Agreement on climate change and greenhouse gas emissions.

What is an encyclical?
An encyclical is a letter circulated by the Pope to Catholic churches worldwide. It is sent directly from our Holy Father in Rome to Catholics all over the world and is often addressed to all people of good will, namely non-Catholics who may also want to read the document. Pope Francis' encyclical 'Laudato Si' - Care of our common home' is addressed to "every person living on this planet".

Where can I see the Laudato Si letter?
The encyclical letter 'Laudato Si' is published on the Vatican website - click here to view.